Boiler feed apparatus



Oct. 25, 1932. v. E, MccoY BOILER FEED APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15. 1930 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERL .'E. MGCOY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO LYNDON F. WILSON, `OIE` CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS v BOILEIR. FEED APPARATUS Application .led February 13, 1930. Serial No. 428,011.

This invention pertains lto methods and apparatus for preheating boiler feed water and is particularly well adapted for use wit-h locomotives.

It is important that feed water suppliedv to awlocomotive already fired up be not so low in temperature as to set up unequal strains within the boiler and .cause destruction of the boiler plates, hence various means have been adopted for preheating the feed water. In the prior patent applications of Lyndon F. Wilson covering feed water conditioners, one of which applications was filed July 30, 1928, and another tiled October 10, 1929, apparatus for preheating feed water has been shown. This invention may be used, if desired, in conjunction with the disclosures of either of those prior patent applications.

This invention contemplates the use of a preheater mounted on the locomotive adjacent the point of injection ofthe lfeed water. Though the feed water in the supply pipe leading from the tender forwardly may become chilled in winter weather, by means of this invention it is precluded from entering the boiler until it has been restored toor has attained a predetermined desired feed water temperature.

The several objects of thisV invention and means of attaining them Vwill be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive eqlipped with one form of the invention, an

A Fig. 2 is a side elevation of 'a locomotive equipped with another form of the invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing a. locomotive 1 is provided with a tender 2r in which a supply of feed water is stored in the usual manner. The exhaust from the steam cylinders is conducted through a pipe r-tothe tender where it is mingled with the water in any suitable manner, preferablyV in the manner disclosed in either of the above mentioned two patent ap plications. The heated water from the tender is withdrawn therefrom through a pipe 41, and the turbo-pump 5, driven by a small steam turbine, forces the water through the pipe 6, preheater and pipe 8 into the boiler. The `Jreheater may be an open type or closed type eater, the latter being shown.

In accordance with the usual practice the engine crew, whenever feed water is required' in the boiler will open the valve 9 in the live steam line 11 and supply steam to the turbopump to drive the same and plump water from the tender into the boiler. f the water in the preheater tank 7 or the water passing therethrough is at a temperature lower than any'predetermined desired temperature the thermostat 12 will actuate the thermostatic valve 13 to open the same and permit live steam to be injected through the pipe 14 into the preheater tank. This injection will continue until the water temperature will cause the thermostatic valve to be closed. In this manner the feeding of the boiler with water of too low a temperature is prevented.

The pipe 8 is provided with a check valve 15 which will admit water to the boiler but prevent reverse flow. The preheater 7 is provided with tubes 16 through which the water flows between the header chambers 17 and 18. The exhaust steam line 3 is provided with a check valve 19 and has a branch line 20 which admits exhaust steam to the space about the tubes 16. The condensate is conducted through the line 21 and check valve 22 to the'intake side of the pump.

Referring now to Fig. 2 a locomotive 1 land a tender 2 are provided with the exhaust steam line 3 for conducting steam -into the water supply in the tender for heating the t same. The heated water is withdrawn from the tender through the pipe 4 and delivered by the turbo-pump 5 through the pipe 6 into a preheater tank 7, thence through the pipe 8 into the boiler. The hand valve 9 Will be regulated by the engine crew to provide intermittent or continuous operation of the turbo-pump by supplying live steam from the live steam supply line 11 to the turbo-pump.

The preheater tank 7 Will be preferably a closed type heater having a header Chamber 17 into which the feed Water is pumped and a header chamber 18 from which the Water flows into the pipe 8. These tWo header chambers yare connected together by` tubes 16 throughvwhichthe feed Wateriiows. Part of the exhaust steam from the line 3 is conducted by the pipe 20 into the space surrounding-'the Water tubesl 16to supply there byheat to the feed Water. The condensatereceived from the exhaust steam is returned through the pipe 21', through theelieclvalve 22 and'is conductedV back into the Water tender Where it may mingle with the 'feed' Water.V

V'I-"hepipe 8 is-provided With' a check valve 15 'which willwpermit fiow therethroughonly intoy the boiler Whilev the exhaustA steam line 3 is provided with a check valve 19 for vvillfthereby-y close the live'steam'supply line totthev turbo-pump Whether 'or' not the; valve 94 is open;h Inthis `manner .assuranceis given thatwat'er of too low teinperature'earnnot be forced bytheturbopump through the pre; heater. tank 7 into the boiler.' When: the water temperature in the. preheaterta-nk 7 isbrought up to the right temperature bythe' exhaust steam the thermostatie. valve Y 24 .will be `reLopened andthe engine crew will 'beable to starti and regulate theA operation. of the turbo-pump by means of the valve 9',- andthe pumpioperation Will be continued soi long as i the/feed Waterl passing through the preheater tankdoes notyby reason ofhavi'ngtoo' 10W a temperature', cause the'thermostatic valve 24 tofbe closed. Y Y

' Itfshou'ld `be understood thatfthis invention isf-susceptible ofembodiment i11v'a1ious other modifications which may differ from.: the

pesenftdisclosure.

Y Having shown .and describedlthis: invention, Iclainr: y

1. In'combination with a boiler anda feed waterstorage' tank, a steam ldriven pumpand' ff- Ypipe'lineiconnected for delivering Waterfrom the tank into'th'eboiler; a preheatin'g chamber disposed Ein said pipe line, means: for deliver-A ing exhaust steam to saidchamber1 for pre-j heating the Water, and thermostatiemeans in-l cluding v thermosatie element disposedy in said chamber constructed for controlling the supply of live steam to said pump arranged to prevent delivery from said chamber intorthe boiler of Water having less than a predetermined temperature.

2. In combination With a locomotive boiler and a feed Water storage tank, means for utilizing the cylinder exhaust steam for heating the water in said storage tank, a pump and pipe line connected for delivering Water fromsaid tank intothe boiler, a preheating chamber interposed insaid line adjacent its connection With the boiler and means for supplying steam thereto, and means including a tlierrnostaticelement disposed"y inI saidl chambei*y constructed for thermostatically controlllingstartngof the pump to prevent delivery from saidfc'liamber of Water having less than a predetermined temperature.

3`. In combination With a locomotive boiler andafeed-water'storage tankymeans for utilizingithezeylinderl exhaust/"steam for heat/in f thevvater in said storage tank", apumpan pipe line connected for deliveringwater from saidtank into the 4boilery'a preheating chamber interposed in-saidfline adj aeent itsco'nnecf tion with the boiler and means for supplying steamV thereto; andfn-xeans independent ofthe first saidimeans including a thermostatic ele--v ment disposed insaid chamber constructed l for thermostatically controlling, starting', of the-pumpto prevent? delivery from said cham-v ber of'Water havingdess' than apredetermined temperature.- f

V4L In comb'nation Awith a'l'ocomotive boiler' andi af tender` tank for storing 'feed 'f water, a pump and z pipe line constructed for deliveringy water fromf said. tank intok the boiler, means fory utilizing: the cylinder' exhaust steam forpreheati-ng the water in said tank, an auxiliary preheat-n'gf; chamber disposedin said' pipeline adj acent'the inlet thereof-into the boiler an'dla'pipe fbnsupplyingsteamto said' chamber for preheating off the Waiterl therein,` and means includ-in g.' ai thermostatic' elementdisposedinisaid chamber constructed for thermostatically controlling' startingf of the pump to prevent delivery from the' charnber into "the boilerfof Water` havingr less' lthan Y a predeterminedtemperatureu y 5. In combination Withfado'eonetive and a feed water storage tanksV al pumppand pipe line connected. forV delivering Water from Y thertanl'k inte'theiboi'ler; a preheatingchmbr interposed in said line adjacent itsvconn'ee.'

tion rwith the-boilen'means for/conducting eylinder exhaust steam to said chamber for heat:- ing the Water therein. andmean's independent of the first said mea-ns including a thermo# static elemenlt disposedin said chamber? corpl structed for therrricstatieallyV coiltriI-i'ng startingfof the purnpto prevent delivery from said chamber otf'lwater having' less than a prs determined temperature;

'62 The method 'of preheafting and rsillpplyfiso ing feed water to a locomotive boiler which comprises preheating and delivering the water from the tender tank into the boiler and preheating it near the forward end of '5 the boiler adgacent its entry thereinto by means of cylinder exhaust steam, and maintaining thermostatic control over the Water delivered to prevent introducing into the boiler Water having less than a predetermined desired temperature.

In witness of the foregoing I aix my signature.

VERL E. MoCO-Y. 

